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23. Bump J "Move Around" (2005)

Producer: Kanye WestAlbum: Nothing To LoseLabel: Atlantic

After the success of Kanye's The College Dropout and Twista's Kamikaze in 2004, every A&R and label head was looking towards Chicago for the next big thing. The name ringing in the streets? Bump J-the new kid on the block whose Goon Squad mixtape series had the streets going bonkers. Execs from both coasts were wooing the MC to join their stable, but it was Lyor Cohen who eventually snagged the budding Goon after personally tracking him down in the streets and making him an offer he couldn't refuse. Touted as the "biggest deal since 50 Cent" (money-wise), Bump was quickly made a top priority at Atlantic and began work on his debut album, Nothing to Lose, which featured assistance from the likes of Kanye West, Rick James, Keyshia Cole, Boogz, and John Legend. "Creative differences" with the label kept Bump's debut from ever hitting shelves, and in 2007 he was granted a release from the label. Finding himself back at square one, Bump aligned with super-producer No I.D. and broke ground on a new project. Unfortunately, Bump's plans for stardom were derailed in late 2008, as he was pinched on federal bank-robbery charges. It was rumored that he was just days away from inking a deal with G.O.O.D. Music prior to his arrest. "Move Around," produced by Yeezy, was probably Bump's biggest record radio- and acclaim-wise, and was even used for a McDonald's commercial during the height of his buzz. Free Bump J!—Andrew Barber